Greetings from South Korea!! - Dallas Cowboys Forum

VCDefectors · 03-26-2009

Hello everyone!

I am currently doing some business here in the great city of Suwon, which is about 25-30 miles south of Seoul, ROK.

Anyway, I had a chance to meet up with some of the men (sorry, no women) in uniform, who serve in the U.S. military and are stationed at a base not too far from Itaewon, which is sort of considered the foreigner's district in Seoul.

Now, to show you all what a great person I am, I did not share any of my wacko liberal views. I just asked basic questions, you know just to get a feel for why it is necessary for the U.S. to have a base here in the ROK almost 60 years after the Korean War.

So sad to say, I was a bit disappointed by some of the answers I received. Most of them had no clue why they were sent here, let alone any of the policy considerations that cause their presence to be necessary. A few of them could only talk about how Korean women are easy, the booze is cheap, and how they can't stand Korean food. Oh well, human nature, I suppose. It's not easy living in a foreign country.

When I asked the question as to whether they would rather be on the front lines in our currently active war fronts (Iraq, Afghanistan coming to mind), most of the soldiers I talked to said that they quickly got over any sentiment for being a war hero when the easy life was so easy to be had.

I can't blame them. Again, a very human response. And perhaps one induced by the plentiful readiness of soju - a favorite among the ROK GI Joes, here.

Anyway, this is not to stir some great controversy about some lazy side of the world's largest bureaucracy, or anything like that. But it is rather an observation of seeing a human quality that is unique to American culture. I really do miss that sort of thing, as the area in where I am staying is rather remote and I am the only American in these parts that I know of. So, in closing of that particular night, I bought a round of drinks for the soldiers I met and bid them a heart-felt farewell. I don't know if I will ever have the great opportunity to run into them again, but their company did bring an element of home that has been sorely missed in my life.

That element of comaderie in Americanship is what I wanted to share with each and every one of you. Something that is far more important than any of our political or social differences.

Cheers! -VCD

ShiningStar · 03-26-2009

In other words, i picked a fight without them knowing, now im going to blast them for serving their country.

I used to think you at least had something, know i am aware its an act and its not even a good one.

But thats okay man, you go blast those men for doing their jobs. You are soooo boss owning them on the interwebs.

Jarv · 03-26-2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by VCDefectors

Hello everyone!

I am currently doing some business here in the great city of Suwon, which is about 25-30 miles south of Seoul, ROK.

Anyway, I had a chance to meet up with some of the men (sorry, no women) in uniform, who serve in the U.S. military and are stationed at a base not too far from Itaewon, which is sort of considered the foreigner's district in Seoul.

Now, to show you all what a great person I am, I did not share any of my wacko liberal views. I just asked basic questions, you know just to get a feel for why it is necessary for the U.S. to have a base here in the ROK almost 60 years after the Korean War.

[View Full Quote]

I think you should stay there and help them make things better

Hostile · 03-26-2009

Jane Fonda is your favorite actress huh?

**BrAinPaiNt** · 03-26-2009

Been to some of the same parts you were at now.

2 ID Rocks.

Have a soju and an OB beer on me.

ZeroClub · 03-26-2009

Stay south!

Jarv · 03-26-2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZeroClub

Stay south!

Nah, better deals up north

**BrAinPaiNt** · 03-26-2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZeroClub

Stay south!

Or drive north towards the DMZ and see all of the cool tank traps and the bridge wired with explosives.

WarC · 03-26-2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by VCDefectors

... I just asked basic questions, you know just to get a feel for why it is necessary for the U.S. to have a base here in the ROK almost 60 years after the Korean War...

That war never ended, its technically still on.

Our presence there is probably the only thing that kept the peace.

Phrozen Phil · 03-26-2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by WarC

That war never ended, its technically still on.

Our presence there is probably the only thing that kept the peace.

Most, if not all of the military personnel that VC met were likely not born at the time of the cease-fire that was signed. "Peace" with North Korea is a somewhat ambiguous term, particularly in light of recent developments with missile testing. We could ask 20 different folks on this board what will be the mission in Korea 2 years from now and we could get 20 different responses. The fact that VC got fairly nebulous responses was likely a function of the social setting he was in, rather than a reflection of actual troop readiness. VC, it's great that you were able to connect with fellow Americans, and even better that you bought them a beer.

**BrAinPaiNt** · 03-26-2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phrozen Phil

Most, if not all of the military personnel that VC met were likely not born at the time of the cease-fire that was signed. "Peace" with North Korea is a somewhat ambiguous term, particularly in light of recent developments with missile testing. We could ask 20 different folks on this board what will be the mission in Korea 2 years from now and we could get 20 different responses. The fact that VC got fairly nebulous responses was likely a function of the social setting he was in, rather than a reflection of actual troop readiness. VC, it's great that you were able to connect with fellow Americans, and even better that you bought them a beer.

That and the idea that many soldiers go there as their first duty station, many have never been out of country (and some not out of their own state). So being young and in a wild atmosphere...they only care about doing their job, getting drunk and doing something to anything that moves.

Oh...the stories I could tell.

zrinkill · 03-26-2009

Do not believe this clown for one second.

He is just fishing again because his last thread bombed.

**BrAinPaiNt** · 03-26-2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by zrinkill

Do not believe this clown for one second.

He is just fishing again because his last thread bombed.

Actually having been there myself, and checking to see where he was posting from <evil grin>, He is pretty much spot on about the majority of what he said.

Many younger soldiers there did not care much about the history over there, they were too busy with other things.

Now does that mean he is trolling or not...don't know, but if he was, it was not a very good troll when he is talking about real stuff, at least real enough to me with my exp over there.

TheCount · 03-26-2009

A friend of mine is from around there, he actually came to America and rode across the entire nation on a 50cc scooter but that's another story, and he wouldn't stop talking about Soju, they love that stuff.

STAR GAZER · 03-26-2009

I'd have to agree with BrainPaint.

I lived in Itaewon for two years as an English Teacher. My brother is still there. I'm now teaching in Taiwan.

The girls are hot. And I think the food is great. However, they can keep that nasty Soju for themselves. Those young military boys had better be careful.